Rick Rogers: Kids going nuts for Hannah Montana

Friday

It is evident kids these days will do anything to get their hands on a pair of Hannah Montana concert tickets.

They will fake their father’s death in Iraq. They will compete in zany contests. They will plot to hijack a plane.

Yes, hijack a plane.

A Californian teenager was arrested in Nashville for plotting to hijack a plane, the FBI said.

FBI spokesman George Bolds told the Associated Press the 16-year-old boy was removed from Southwest Airlines Flight 284 on Tuesday night at Nashville international airport and found with "suspicious" items.

The agent said the teenager possessed handcuffs, rope and duct tape in his bag. He was traveling alone. The boy's name has not been released.

Bolds dismissed earlier reports that the boy was planning to crash the jet into a Hannah Montana concert in Lafayette, La.

He said the teenager was calm throughout the flight and did not make an attempt to hijack the plane but told the FBI after he was apprehended about his plans to commandeer the aircraft.

This Hannah Montana stuff is out of control.

All I can think about when I see my daughters watching the popular Disney Channel television show is that how did Billy Ray Cyrus get another 15 minutes of fame after his year singing “Achy Breaky Heart” with that king of all mullet haircuts he had? Billy Ray is Miley Cyrus’ father. Miley is the star of "Hannah Montana."

It is a shame I know all of this, but I know there are parents out there who could give a synopsis on a few episodes along with me.

You know who you are.

There is no doubt Hannah Montana is the queen of the pre-teen scene.

My 7-year-old daughter is one of Hannah’s No. 1 fans. She has the CDs, school folders and pajamas.

She received a Hannah Montana doll for Christmas from a relative, and can’t wait for her concert movie to hit theaters next Friday.

So, it has become apparent with this latest crazy story of a pre-teen gone wild for Hannah tickets, that parents everywhere need to have the “Hannah Montana” talk with their young children.

We need to tell them that it is not OK to fake a relative’s death to make up a sob story and win free tickets.

It’s important for them to know that hijacking airplanes or running away from home is not acceptable just to try to score some scalped tickets off the street outside her next concert.

And, no, we as parents will not pay $1,500 per ticket on a broker Web site just to see the show from the top row of the arena.

The first thing I thought of when I read the story of the boy wanting to hijack the plane to go to the show was if he shouted, “sweet niblets” when his plan was foiled by authorities.

“Sweet niblets” is Hannah’s catch phrase.

Oh, geez, I know way too much about this stuff.

Somebody, help!

Rick Rogers is the publisher of The Neosho Daily News. His column publishes Fridays. E-mail him at rrogers@neoshodaily news.com.

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